8/11/2019 Huntsmann Design Challenge 2014 - NPS 2014

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This contest problem is open to all students attending NPS 14 and teams are to be made upof one or two students. The main report shall not exceed 8 pages in length and is to cover thefollowing topics:

  1. Executive Summary (Short, non-technical summary)  2. Introduction (Technical summary)

  3. PFD, Process description, Mass Balance  4. Operating Cost analysis  5. Materials Compatibility Statement  6. Preliminary Equipment Sizings  7. Conclusion (why this it the best option)  8. References

In addition to the 8 page main report an additional appendix can include further supportingdocuments such as calculations. The main report and appendix, in pdf format, and any otherle (spreadsheet, simulation etc.), should be packed (zip format) and sent to NPS organizati-on in electronic form as e-mail attachment to info@nps14.nl. The jury will select the best 3

technical solutions to present their design at NPS14 where the winner will be chosen. The besttechnical solution is considered to have the optimal mix of operating cost, capital investmentand risk.

Entries to be submitted on the 17th of Oct 2014 and the shortlist will be available on

the 24th of Oct 2014.

IntroductionYou are working as part of the engineering team in the conceptual phase of a major investment.A recent sustainability study has identied the MDI separation step to be very energy intensive.The Project manager has given you an action to investigate one option to reduce energy con-

sumption in this area of the plant. He is risk adverse and has emphasized that the technologymust be well proven.The Technology manager is also involved in the project and sees this as an opportunity to trysomething completely different. He wants you to make use of modern separation techniques tomake a step change in energy consumption.It is your challenge to keep everyone happy by coming up with a design that is energy efcientbut with sufcient evidence to demonstrate that the technology is available for implementation.

Huntsman Annual Design Challenge 2014

NPS 14

fundamentally innovative 

1st Prize €1,000

2nd Prize €350

3rd Prize €150

8/11/2019 Huntsmann Design Challenge 2014 - NPS 2014

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ProblemYou are required to separate a 4 component system. The product is MDI (methylene diphenyldiisocyanate) with a specication of < 10 ppm MCB (mono chloro benzene) and < 1 ppm phos-gene. In addition at least 90% of the MCB needs to be <10 ppm MDI and <10 ppm phosgene,to be used as clean recycle.

The feed conditions are ...

Pressure 5 barg

Temperature 100degC

Flow 100,000 kg/hMDI 25 wt%

MCB 71 wt%

Phosgene 3.5 wt%

HCl 0.5 wt%

UtilitiesSteamYou currently have 2 grades of steam available to you in the project. The value is the same

for both consumption and production of steam. It is not currently envisaged to have any othersteam grades available. 

HP Steam 20 barg @ 20 euro/t

LP Steam 2.5 barg @ 15 euro/t

Electricity   The cost of electricity is 0.1 euro / kWhNitrogen  Nitrogen is available on site at 7barg at a cost of 0.05 euro/kgOthers  The above utilities are currently known to be available in the project.If you require something else then include it making a reasonable estimate of the cost.

Physical PropertiesFor modelling the physical properties Wilson RK should be used. If another method set is usedthen this needs to be justied in the appendix to the report.

Points of Interest• One design is allowed per entry but no limit to the number of entries.• This is a challenge in conceptual thinking and requires only enough work to prove that

the concept works.• Detailed design will be carried out at a later stage so shortcut sizing methods are

acceptable for the preliminary sizing.• It is advisable to use a process simulator to model the separation.

• The jury will consist of the technology manager, project manager and 2 independentexperts.• A target value of 60 million euro can be taken for Installed Equipment Cost + 6 times

Variable cost.

fundamentally innovative